There are about 800,000 dog bite and dog attack victims in the United States every year. One in six of dog bite injuries is serious enough to require medical attention. Seventy-five per cent of dog-bite injuries are to the face. Scarring is often a common and permanent result. Children are three times more likely to be bitten than adults. In fact, dog attacks and bites are one of the top five causes of children's emergency room visits in the U.S. Sadly, the most vulnerable are the most victimized; dog bites to children under 10 years old are the most severe.

In New York, a dog owner, or anyone who harbors a dog, is strictly liable for dog attacks and bites only if it can be shown that: (1) the dog had "vicious propensities" (which means a tendency to attack or bite) and (2) the owner knew or should about the vicious propensities.

The almost iron-clad way of proving a dog owner knew of his dog's vicious propensities is to show that the dog bit someone else before. Where there has been no prior bite, you can prove the owner knew of the dog's vicious propensities by showing that the dog tended to growl, snap or bare its teeth at people. Other evidence of an owner's knowledge that his dog was dangerous are that the owner chained or tied the dog up or had fenced it in, or he kept the dog as a guard dog, or put up "beware of dog" signs, or told people that the dog was dangerous.

Although any dog can bite, some breeds, such as pit bulls and Rottweilers, are notori0us for their viciousness. In most cases, it is because they were trained to be vicious. When these dogs bite, they mean business; together pit bulls and Rottweilers account for about 70% of dog-bite fatalities. Even so, New York courts have rejected the theory that certain breeds can be "assumed" more "vicious" than others. In other words, the courts treat all dogs equally in court, no matter what the breed. You have to prove the dog itself, and not just its breed, had vicious propensities that the owner knew or should have known about.

Michaels & Smolak has recovered millions of dollars for dog bit victims and for other injuries to cover their medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and more. If you or a loved one has been bitten or attacked by a dog, CONTACT US for a free consultation with an experienced lawyer who can inform you of your legal rights and maximize your compensation.